Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
THAT WAS FOR YOU, JACK
On an emotional day for Leeds, Hernandez comes up with the perfect tribute as he dedicates his late winner to a club legend
LEEDS and Pablo Hernandez paid the perfect tribute to Jack Charlton by moving to the brink of a return to the Premier League.
Hernandez’s 89th-minute goal sparked delirium among his team-mates and head coach Marcelo Bielsa, and put Leeds three points clear of West Brom in second.
“He’s part of the history of our club,” said Hernandez of Elland Road and England legend Charlton, who died on Friday. “The three points is for everyone, especially him and his memory.
“This win is for him. We know it’s a massive win, but you can never think all the work is done until the season finishes.”
Four more points from their remaining three games would guarantee promotion, and it is surely now a case of when not if for Leeds.
World Cup hero Charlton made a club record 773 appearances, and Leeds warmed up yesterday with “RIP big Jack” on their shirts. Both teams wore black armbands and there was a minute’s silence in tribute.
Bielsa admitted there were mixed emotions after downing Swansea.
“Of course he is a legend of the club,” he said. “We have difficult feelings. The fact we won in this situation when we have had bad news is amazing.”
For Swansea this defeat means play-off hopes if not quite dead, are on life support. Head coach Steve Cooper said: “I felt comfortable for most of the game, so we are really disappointed to concede like we did late on.
“It’s a tough one to take but we have to get over it quickly. There are still points to take from the remaining games.
“It was a case of tired legs on a hot day and Leeds are a really good side. Nothing was going to be decided today and it’s probably going to go to the last game.”
Bielsa’s men started and ended the first half on top, but this was a more than equal contest. Swansea held their own and both teams had chances.
Liverpool loanee Rhian Brewster and impressive Chelsea youngster Conor Gallagher both went close for the home side.
Then Swans keeper Freddie Woodman got in a pickle with Kyle Naughton which nearly led to the defender putting into his own net. Stuart Dallas and Patrick Bamford who should have scored also worked Woodman. Bamford shot straight at the keeper from close range after Ben White’s long ball forward.
Charlton would surely have enjoyed the blood and thunder of this clash. The challenges flew in and referee Keith Stroud dished out three first-half bookings as the fouls mounted up.
Bielsa introduced former Swansea player Hernandez and Ezgjan Alioski for the second half. The Leeds boss clearly did not like the way the game was going, his repeated cries of, “Again, again” to encourage his players reverberating around the empty Liberty Stadium.
At one point his halftime cup of tea went flying such was his frustration. He was right to be concerned.
Gallagher drove on goal and unleashed a powerful shot and then crossed for Marc Guehi, who headed over.
The cut and thrust of the first half continued in the second. There was an edge to the game, with Alioski and Andre Ayew colliding and clattering into the advertising boards.
On the hour Woodman continued his heroics. Jack Harrison’s volleyed cross found Bamford and his low, stooped header was saved spectacularly by Woodman. Bamford will know he should have scored. A yard either side and it was a goal.
At that stage it looked as though Leeds would have to settle for a point. That would have been a fair result. But Hernandez had other ideas and stuck the knife into his former team.
With Swansea tiring and a minute of normal time remaining, Luke Ayling crossed from the right and Hernandez controlled before beating Woodman with a finish that went in off a post.
Hernandez raced away to celebrate and was booked for removing his shirt amid the chaos. Not that he, Leeds or Bielsa will care as a place in the Premier League for the first time since 2004 now seems certain.
SWANSEA: Woodman 8 (Mulder 90), Naughton 6, Cabango 7, Guehi 7 (Cullen 90), Roberts 6, Grimes 7, Fulton 5 (Byers 90, 5), Gallagher 8, Bidwell 6 (Cullen 90), Ayew 5, Brewster 5 (Routledge 81, 5) LEEDS: Meslier 6, Ayling 7, White 6, Cooper 6, Dallas 4 (Alioski 46, 6), Phillips 7, Costa 6 (Shackleton 90), Klich 5, Roberts 4 (Hernandez 46, 8), Harrison 7 (Berardi 90), Bamford 4
LEWIS GRABBAN and Ben Watson helped Forest cement their play-off claims – but they almost didn’t get the chance.
Grabban’s early penalty, his 20th strike this season, and Watson’s midfield efforts kept their promotion push alive.
Yet both were told they could go by Martin O’neill, until he was sacked a year ago. Replacement Sabri Lamouchi encouraged them to stay – with amazing results over the past 12 months.
At Deepdale, Grabban slotted home his spot-kick after Preston’s Ben Pearson felled Nuno Da
Costa, right under the nose of referee Jeremy Simpson.
But after the ever-dangerous Jayden Stockley levelled (above) from close range to spark a Preston fight-back, Watson helped Forest weather the storm.
And Watson admitted: “We’re in a fantastic position at Forest, and it’s great to be involved in this push for the play-offs.
“We now have to get the job finished, with a tough game against Swansea on Wednesday.
“That’s Lewis’ 20th goal of the season – and that’s the first time since 2013 this has been achieved at Forest.
“He’s one of the best scorers in the Championship, and we’re fortunate to have him.”
A point kept Preston’s own play-off hopes flickering, and boss Alex Neil insisted: “We are still in the hunt. We have three big games left, starting at Brentford on Wednesday.”
Midfielder Brad Potts, who set up Stockley’s equaliser, said: “If we play to Jayden’s strengths you can see how effective he can be.”